Stylus and socket therefor



Nov. 20, 1956 L. J. ANDRES STYLUS AND socxET THEREFOR Filed Feb. l, 1952 United tates Patent O STYLUS AND SOCKET THEREFGR Lloyd J. Andres, Chicago, lll., assigner to Perma, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation Application February 1, 1952, Serial No. 269,406

2 Claims. (Cl. 274--37) This invention relates in general to phonograph needles and more particularly to a detachable stylus and socket, which socket is intended to be secured in a transducer.

The principal object and advantage of the stylus and socket resides in a novel construction whereby an extremely low mass stylus is firmly secured in a holder and adapted for quick and easy stylus removal and replacement.

Stylus members previous to this invention were retained in sockets by screw or friction means which inherently either resulted in the presence of excessive mass or the stylus retention was subject to loosening when subjected to normal vibration when tracking a record groove.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction in the stylus shank and the socket therefor which provides a lateral gripping action, thus preventing loosening and resultant distortion in the reproduction of the recording.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stylus shank and a socket therefor which is readily and quickly removable for replacement.

These and other objects in one embodiment of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawing, in Which- Fig. l is an enlarged perspective View of the stylus and holder therefor;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the stylus and holder showing the stylus removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front sectional view showing the normal position of the stylus in the holder;

Fig. 4 is a side cross sectional view of the stylus in the holder taken through section line 4-4 Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a bottom cross sectional view of the stylus and holder taken through section line 5 5 Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a bottom cross sectional view of the holder and stylus taken through section line 5 5 Fig. 3 prior to complete insertion of the stylus.

Referring to Fig. l, a tubular holder 1 is intended to be secured in a transducer and responsive to lateral motion. The tubular end portion of the socket 2 is flattened as shown to retain therein stylus member 3 in which an offset portion 5 retains the playing point 7 positioned substantially normal thereto.

The vertical shank portion 4 of the stylus shown Figs. 2 and 3 has formed therein a tapered projection 6. It is understood that both the walls of the socket 2 and the shank 4 are made of spring-like material subject to slight 2,771,295 Patented Nov. 20, i956 ICC deformation when stressed. The width W1 of the shank portion 4 is intended to be slightly less than the width W of the inside of the holder and also slightly thinner than the height H of the socket as shown in Fig. 6. Thus the shank 4 will enter the tubular socket 2 freely until the tapered projection 6 engages the inner wall of the tube 2. When upon further insertion of the shank in the holder, the projection 6 will engage the inner wall of the socket as shown in Fig. 5 and expand this wall outwardly and simutlaneously the normal socket width W will retract and cause the inner end edges of the socket to rmly grip the outer edges of the shank, thus firmly securing the stylus in socket as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

It is apparent that when the playing point 7 is engaged in a record groove the downward vertical pressure of the holder will always tend to tighten the engagement of the shank 4 in the socket 2 and since there is no lost motion between the outer edges of the stylus and the socket therefor, no loss or distortion in reproduction of the transducer is possible. It is also apparent that the stylus member 3 may be easily removed from the socket by a simple downward withdrawal of the stylus member 3.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

l. A phonograph stylus and tubular socket therefor in combination comprising a tubular socket having a flattened end portion formed with substantially parallel major and minor inner Walls of predetermined resilience providng a slot-like opening therein, a stylus member having a at shank portion at one end and a playing portion at its opposite end, said shank portion having substantially parallel edges and a predetermined width adapted to normally enter said opening a predetermined distance in close proximity with said inner walls, a rigid inclined projection on one side of said shank portion adapted to progressively engage and bend outwardly one said major inner wall when said shank is inserted in said socket whereby said socket will exert holding forces against said projection and said edges at right angles thereto.

2. A phonograph stylus for locking engagement in a tubular socket comprising a flat shank portion at one end and a playing portion at its opposite end, said shank portion having substantially parallel edges and a predetermined width, a rigid elongated inclined projection integral with one side of said shank portion, said shank portion constructed to freely enter the open end of a lat resilient tubular socket having two major walls and two minor walls whereby inward movement of said inclined projection in said socket will move one of said major walls outwardly and contract said two minor walls inwardly into locking engagement with said opposite edges of said shank.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,238,099 Brus Apr. 15, 1941 2,543,127 Pickering Feb. 27, i951 2,565,837 Ansar Aug. 28, 1951 2,578,809 Ketchum Dec. 18, 1951 2,594,948 Lynch Apr. 29, 1952 

